Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
384. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any formal benchmarking framework exists comparing homelessness service delivery standards across local authorities or homeless regions. [36349/26]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to local authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Details on the type and operation of homeless services, including the emergency accommodation centres in use, are a matter for individual local authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
To assist in ensuring that homeless services provided are of a high standard, a National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) was developed by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) in partnership with the NGO Sector, the HSE and other key stakeholders. The NQSF for homeless services now operates across all local authority and NGO delivered services. The NQSF standards adopted the overarching themes that HIQA use as the foundation for all quality standards frameworks that they are involved with. The framework is designed to ensure a consistent approach in how local authorities and contracted service providers in the NGO sector respond to the needs of those experiencing homelessness and to improve the quality of services provided. The NQSF standards give service providers a framework for maintaining and improving quality in their service delivery. It is matter for the local authorities to ensure compliance with the standards, including through the contractual arrangements and service level agreements in place with partner organisations.
Given the increased need for contracted private emergency accommodation, the DRHE adapted the NQSF standards and applies these standards to private emergency accommodation.
The standards contained in 'Quality Standards for Private Emergency Accommodation' have been developed to reflect the different service models in private emergency accommodation i.e. different entities providing the facility and the supports. As was the case with the roll-out of the NQSF to NGO services, a developmental approach to the roll out of these standards is being taken. The ultimate aim is to ensure that standards are being applied and monitored across all facilities, irrespective of whether they are NGO or privately operated.
My Department does not hold the information requested comparing service delivery standards across homeless regions, as it is a matter for local authorities to monitor standards.
In the Dublin region, an in-house standards team monitor compliance with the NQSF for NGO facilities under the service level agreements in place. These include checks on the physical standards, occupancy, supports and hygiene. The DRHE has also appointed an officer to monitor the standards in private emergency accommodation facilities. Information in relation to the application, monitoring and governance of standards, including published inspection reports, for Dublin based emergency accommodation is available from the DRHE at the following link: www.homelessdublin.ie/our-work/quality-standards.
